TicketsMerriweather One-On-One Interview
Director of Athletics John Cunningham announced the hire of former Bearcats' captain Katrina Merriweather as the 10th women's basketball head coach at the University of Cincinnati on March 25, 2023.
Merriweather quickly has become a rising star in the coaching profession, taking three programs to the postseason a total of six times, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. She has totaled 180 wins in nine seasons as bench boss.
In just her second season at Cincinnati, Merriweather continued the program’s upward trajectory, guiding the Bearcats to their first winning season since 2019-20 and surpassing the previous year’s win total. UC posted its best non-conference winning percentage (.800, 8-2) since 2005-06 and secured its most conference wins (7) since 2019-20. The Bearcats also led the Big 12 and ranked among the nation’s top five in made free throws per game.
Forward Jillian Hayes cemented her legacy as the first player in program history to earn All-Big 12 honors, landing on the All-Big 12 Third Team in 2024-25 after earning Honorable Mention recognition the previous season.
Merriweather’s impact was immediate, successfully navigating Cincinnati’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 in her first season at the helm. The Bearcats saw a five-win improvement, posted their best non-conference winning percentage (72.7%) in 15 years, and strung together a six-game win streak—their longest since 2019-20. That season also featured UC’s first victory over an SEC opponent since 2004.
Merriweather once again proved her ability to build postseason contenders, leading Cincinnati to the 2024 WNIT—marking the program’s 14th postseason appearance and first since 2019.
"I'm excited to announce Katrina Merriweather as the next head coach for our women's basketball program," Cunningham said. "Her track record of success at both Wright State and Memphis speaks for itself. She's been an outstanding recruiter, program builder and developer of talent. As an alumna of Cincinnati and one of the winningest players in school history, she knows the potential this program has and understands what it will take for us to compete at the top of the Big 12. She's the perfect fit and I'm thrilled to welcome her back to the program."
A four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats' Hall of Fame head coach Laurie Pirtle from 1997-01, Merriweather became the program's first women's basketball player to advance to four consecutive postseason tournaments. Additionally, she helped lead the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win as a graduate assistant coach in 2001-02.
"I'm elated to come back to the University of Cincinnati as the head coach of the women's basketball program," Merriweather said. "My time as a student-athlete and as a Bearcat were some of the greatest years of my life, and I'm excited to give back with everything I have to our current players like so many did for me. This is home for me, and I'm honored to wear the C-Paw once again. I'm thankful to John Cunningham and Maggie McKinley for this opportunity and I'm looking forward to working closely with our entire athletics department to compete for championships in the Big 12."
Merriweather and USA Basketball earned a silver medal podium finish at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. She was elevated to her first bench coach assignment for the event after previously serving as a court coach for the 2021 USA Women's U19 National Team Trails.
Merriweather led Memphis to a 22-11 season in 2022-23, the program's first 20-win season in more than a decade, and an appearance in the 2023 WNIT Sweet 16.
Merriweather took over a four-win Memphis team and immediately produced 16 wins in 2021-22 before the 22-win campaign this season in which the Tigers clinched the two seed in the 2022 AAC Championships, the program's highest-ever AAC regular season finish, and advanced to a postseason tournament for the first time since 2015-16.
In her two seasons at the helm, the Tigers compiled a 38-23 record and earned three All-Conference selections.
The search was led by Maggie McKinley, Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, who worked with Cunningham to bring Merriweather back home.
"It was truly a no-brainer to bring Katrina Merriweather back to Cincinnati to lead our women's basketball program," McKinley said. "She checked every box for what we were looking for in our next head coach. She's a top recruiter with a proven track record of building programs. She will bring an elite staff with her here, and care and concern for the student-athlete is her top priority. Of course, being a former player, team captain and graduate assistant coach here, she has personal investment in the program. Any time you get the opportunity to bring a Bearcat back to their home and back to the University of Cincinnati family, it's a win."
Prior to her tenure at Memphis, Merriweather spent five seasons as the head coach at Wright State, where she took the Raiders to two NCAA Tournaments and was named Horizon League Coach of the Year three times. Merriweather led Wright State to the program's third appearance and first NCAA Tournament win with an upset over four-seed Arkansas in 2021.
In 2018-19, she guided the Raiders to a school-record 27 wins and its first-ever outright Horizon League regular season championship, securing the conference tournament title and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
While at the helm, Merriweather led the Raiders to a 113-47 (.706) record, finishing with the best winning percentage in program history. She was a part of all three of the program's Horizon League tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, twice as a head coach in 2019 and 2021 and once as an assistant in 2014. The Raiders also earned 16 All-Conference selections in her tenure.
Merriweather was an assistant under Mike Bradbury for six seasons at Wright State from 2010-16 before becoming head coach.
Prior to Wright State, she was an assistant at Purdue from 2003-06, and at UIC for the 2002-03 season.
With the Bearcats, Merriweather made 27 career starts, including 22 in her senior season, and played in 107 games. She helped lead the program to an 83-41 record in her four seasons.
"I'm beyond proud for Katrina," said Pirtle, who won 310 games over 21 seasons at Cincinnati. "She was a tremendous player in terms of how she handled herself, but most importantly she was a coach and leader on and off the floor. She constantly pulled our team together. This hire should come as no surprise. I speak for all of the UC basketball family when I say we are extremely proud of her and excited to see her come back to lead this program."
The Indianapolis native graduated from Cincinnati in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in English literature and earned a second bachelor in secondary education in 2002.
Katrina Merriweather Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
Wright State
2016-17 25-9, 15-3 Horizon League – co-Champions; WNIT 2nd round
2017-18 23-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
2018-19 27-7, 16-2 Horizon League – Champions; NCAA 1st round
2019-20 19-12, 13-5 Horizon League – t-2nd; no postseason COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21 19-8, 15-5 Horizon League – co-Champions; NCAA 2nd round
Memphis
2021-22 16-12, 6-9 American – 7th
2022-23 22-11, 11-4 American – 2nd; WNIT Super 16
Cincinnati
2023-24 14-18, 5-13 Big 12 – 11th; WNIT Second Round
2024-25 15-14, 7-11 Big 12 – 10th
Total (9 years) 180-102 (.638), 71-21 (.772) Horizon League, 17-13 (.567) American, 12-24 (.333) Big 12
Katrina Merriweather Year-by-Year Coaching Record
Cincinnati (graduate asst.)
2001-02 26-5, 11-3 Conference USA; C-USA Tournament Champions; NCAA 2nd round
UIC (assistant coach)
2002-03 17-11, 11-5 Horizon League – 2nd
Purdue (assistant coach)
2003-04 29-4, 14-2 Big Ten – 2nd, Big Ten Tournament Champions; (NCAA Sweet 16)
2004-05 17-13, 9-7 Big Ten – 5th; NCAA 2nd round
2005-06 26-7, 13-3 Big Ten – 2nd; NCAA Sweet 16
Wright State (assistant coach)
2010-11 20-13, 11-7 Horizon League – 4th; Women's Basketball Invitational 2nd round
2011-12 21-13, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; Women's Basketball Invitational 1st round
2012-13 12-18, 6-10 Horizon League – 5th
2013-14 26-9, 12-4 Horizon League – 2nd; Horizon League Tour. Champions; NCAA 1st round
2014-15 25-9, 12-4 Horizon League – 2nd; WNIT 1st round
2015-16 24-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
Wright State (head coach)
2016-17 25-9, 15-3 Horizon League – co-Champions; WNIT 2nd round
2017-18 23-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
2018-19 27-7, 16-2 Horizon League – Champions & Horizon Tour. Champs; NCAA 1st round
2019-20 19-12, 13-5 Horizon League – t-2nd; no postseason COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21 19-8, 15-5 Horizon League – co-Champions & Horizon Tour. Champs; NCAA 2nd round
Memphis (head coach)
2021-22 16-12, 6-9 American – 7th
2022-23 22-11, 11-4 American – 2nd; WNIT Super 16
Cincinnati (head coach)
2023-24 14-18, 5-13 Big 12 - 11th; WNIT Second Round
2024-25 15-14, 7-11 Big 12 – 10th
Director of Athletics John Cunningham announced the hire of former Bearcats' captain Katrina Merriweather as the 10th women's basketball head coach at the University of Cincinnati on March 25, 2023.
Merriweather quickly has become a rising star in the coaching profession, taking three programs to the postseason a total of six times, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. She has totaled 180 wins in nine seasons as bench boss.
In just her second season at Cincinnati, Merriweather continued the program’s upward trajectory, guiding the Bearcats to their first winning season since 2019-20 and surpassing the previous year’s win total. UC posted its best non-conference winning percentage (.800, 8-2) since 2005-06 and secured its most conference wins (7) since 2019-20. The Bearcats also led the Big 12 and ranked among the nation’s top five in made free throws per game.
Forward Jillian Hayes cemented her legacy as the first player in program history to earn All-Big 12 honors, landing on the All-Big 12 Third Team in 2024-25 after earning Honorable Mention recognition the previous season.
Merriweather’s impact was immediate, successfully navigating Cincinnati’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 in her first season at the helm. The Bearcats saw a five-win improvement, posted their best non-conference winning percentage (72.7%) in 15 years, and strung together a six-game win streak—their longest since 2019-20. That season also featured UC’s first victory over an SEC opponent since 2004.
Merriweather once again proved her ability to build postseason contenders, leading Cincinnati to the 2024 WNIT—marking the program’s 14th postseason appearance and first since 2019.
"I'm excited to announce Katrina Merriweather as the next head coach for our women's basketball program," Cunningham said. "Her track record of success at both Wright State and Memphis speaks for itself. She's been an outstanding recruiter, program builder and developer of talent. As an alumna of Cincinnati and one of the winningest players in school history, she knows the potential this program has and understands what it will take for us to compete at the top of the Big 12. She's the perfect fit and I'm thrilled to welcome her back to the program."
A four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats' Hall of Fame head coach Laurie Pirtle from 1997-01, Merriweather became the program's first women's basketball player to advance to four consecutive postseason tournaments. Additionally, she helped lead the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win as a graduate assistant coach in 2001-02.
"I'm elated to come back to the University of Cincinnati as the head coach of the women's basketball program," Merriweather said. "My time as a student-athlete and as a Bearcat were some of the greatest years of my life, and I'm excited to give back with everything I have to our current players like so many did for me. This is home for me, and I'm honored to wear the C-Paw once again. I'm thankful to John Cunningham and Maggie McKinley for this opportunity and I'm looking forward to working closely with our entire athletics department to compete for championships in the Big 12."
Merriweather and USA Basketball earned a silver medal podium finish at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. She was elevated to her first bench coach assignment for the event after previously serving as a court coach for the 2021 USA Women's U19 National Team Trails.
Merriweather led Memphis to a 22-11 season in 2022-23, the program's first 20-win season in more than a decade, and an appearance in the 2023 WNIT Sweet 16.
Merriweather took over a four-win Memphis team and immediately produced 16 wins in 2021-22 before the 22-win campaign this season in which the Tigers clinched the two seed in the 2022 AAC Championships, the program's highest-ever AAC regular season finish, and advanced to a postseason tournament for the first time since 2015-16.
In her two seasons at the helm, the Tigers compiled a 38-23 record and earned three All-Conference selections.
The search was led by Maggie McKinley, Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, who worked with Cunningham to bring Merriweather back home.
"It was truly a no-brainer to bring Katrina Merriweather back to Cincinnati to lead our women's basketball program," McKinley said. "She checked every box for what we were looking for in our next head coach. She's a top recruiter with a proven track record of building programs. She will bring an elite staff with her here, and care and concern for the student-athlete is her top priority. Of course, being a former player, team captain and graduate assistant coach here, she has personal investment in the program. Any time you get the opportunity to bring a Bearcat back to their home and back to the University of Cincinnati family, it's a win."
Prior to her tenure at Memphis, Merriweather spent five seasons as the head coach at Wright State, where she took the Raiders to two NCAA Tournaments and was named Horizon League Coach of the Year three times. Merriweather led Wright State to the program's third appearance and first NCAA Tournament win with an upset over four-seed Arkansas in 2021.
In 2018-19, she guided the Raiders to a school-record 27 wins and its first-ever outright Horizon League regular season championship, securing the conference tournament title and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
While at the helm, Merriweather led the Raiders to a 113-47 (.706) record, finishing with the best winning percentage in program history. She was a part of all three of the program's Horizon League tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, twice as a head coach in 2019 and 2021 and once as an assistant in 2014. The Raiders also earned 16 All-Conference selections in her tenure.
Merriweather was an assistant under Mike Bradbury for six seasons at Wright State from 2010-16 before becoming head coach.
Prior to Wright State, she was an assistant at Purdue from 2003-06, and at UIC for the 2002-03 season.
With the Bearcats, Merriweather made 27 career starts, including 22 in her senior season, and played in 107 games. She helped lead the program to an 83-41 record in her four seasons.
"I'm beyond proud for Katrina," said Pirtle, who won 310 games over 21 seasons at Cincinnati. "She was a tremendous player in terms of how she handled herself, but most importantly she was a coach and leader on and off the floor. She constantly pulled our team together. This hire should come as no surprise. I speak for all of the UC basketball family when I say we are extremely proud of her and excited to see her come back to lead this program."
The Indianapolis native graduated from Cincinnati in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in English literature and earned a second bachelor in secondary education in 2002.
Katrina Merriweather Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
Wright State
2016-17 25-9, 15-3 Horizon League – co-Champions; WNIT 2nd round
2017-18 23-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
2018-19 27-7, 16-2 Horizon League – Champions; NCAA 1st round
2019-20 19-12, 13-5 Horizon League – t-2nd; no postseason COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21 19-8, 15-5 Horizon League – co-Champions; NCAA 2nd round
Memphis
2021-22 16-12, 6-9 American – 7th
2022-23 22-11, 11-4 American – 2nd; WNIT Super 16
Cincinnati
2023-24 14-18, 5-13 Big 12 – 11th; WNIT Second Round
2024-25 15-14, 7-11 Big 12 – 10th
Total (9 years) 180-102 (.638), 71-21 (.772) Horizon League, 17-13 (.567) American, 12-24 (.333) Big 12
Katrina Merriweather Year-by-Year Coaching Record
Cincinnati (graduate asst.)
2001-02 26-5, 11-3 Conference USA; C-USA Tournament Champions; NCAA 2nd round
UIC (assistant coach)
2002-03 17-11, 11-5 Horizon League – 2nd
Purdue (assistant coach)
2003-04 29-4, 14-2 Big Ten – 2nd, Big Ten Tournament Champions; (NCAA Sweet 16)
2004-05 17-13, 9-7 Big Ten – 5th; NCAA 2nd round
2005-06 26-7, 13-3 Big Ten – 2nd; NCAA Sweet 16
Wright State (assistant coach)
2010-11 20-13, 11-7 Horizon League – 4th; Women's Basketball Invitational 2nd round
2011-12 21-13, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; Women's Basketball Invitational 1st round
2012-13 12-18, 6-10 Horizon League – 5th
2013-14 26-9, 12-4 Horizon League – 2nd; Horizon League Tour. Champions; NCAA 1st round
2014-15 25-9, 12-4 Horizon League – 2nd; WNIT 1st round
2015-16 24-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
Wright State (head coach)
2016-17 25-9, 15-3 Horizon League – co-Champions; WNIT 2nd round
2017-18 23-11, 12-6 Horizon League – 3rd; WNIT 1st round
2018-19 27-7, 16-2 Horizon League – Champions & Horizon Tour. Champs; NCAA 1st round
2019-20 19-12, 13-5 Horizon League – t-2nd; no postseason COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21 19-8, 15-5 Horizon League – co-Champions & Horizon Tour. Champs; NCAA 2nd round
Memphis (head coach)
2021-22 16-12, 6-9 American – 7th
2022-23 22-11, 11-4 American – 2nd; WNIT Super 16
Cincinnati (head coach)
2023-24 14-18, 5-13 Big 12 - 11th; WNIT Second Round
2024-25 15-14, 7-11 Big 12 – 10th